iRobot Scooba experience

[whypurplishblue]

I've only used my Scooba once but i find that its easier to clean the Scooba than my Roomba. Takes me only 1 min to wash the brush, brush housing, filter and port. Another min to wash the tank and wipe down Scooba body. Done! For Roomba, it takes me at least 5 mins to empty bin and clean filter + general cleaning of Roomba.

Looks like my cleaning habits are opposite to yours. I takes just a few minutes for me to clean the filter and dustbin. I just knock all the dust into my big dustbin and give roomba a quick wipe.

For the scooba I will do the same as you and rinse the scooba tank a few times and shake it to loosen up whatever junk is caught inside. then clean the entry tubes into the tank and after that use an ear bud to clean insde the scooba fan once in a while.

 

[mosmos]

I used my Roomba first followed by Scooba. My power LED is still green even after 2 COMPLETE cycles, which is enough to cover 3 bedrooms and 1 living room. Dirty water drained out is slight greyish in colour. As my place is cleaned daily, when i clean Scooba after the 2 runs, all its components are pretty clean. Nothing dirty in the filter and the brush did not appear to have hair/debris twined. One thing I noticed while Scooba was cleaning, it does occasionally make some squeaking noise. Also, if u stopped Scooba halfway in the clean cycle (say to move it to another room) and pick it up, there's a small puddle of water left on the floor. If u activate the dry cycle before picking up, its ok. I hate it when u pick it up and it drips a little while u carry it about. Do u guys face this problem? As for the noise level, seems pretty quiet to me. If i were to compare, it seems a little quieter than my Red

lucky that you did not get the 5800, it's getting louder and louder.

for the water thing, both 380 + 5800 will leave a small puddle of water on floor whenever it stops running.

Some water also will drip when carry up, maybe it's the water in the brushes that had not sucked back.

 

[mosmos]

I've only used my Scooba once but i find that its easier to clean the Scooba than my Roomba. Takes me only 1 min to wash the brush, brush housing, filter and port. Another min to wash the tank and wipe down Scooba body. Done! For Roomba, it takes me at least 5 mins to empty bin and clean filter + general cleaning of Roomba.

yah, scooba easier to clean, just put under running tap and flush.

Btw, i suggest you open up the scooba brush housing to dry when not using. Put back only when you want to run the scooba.

Last time i did not do that to my 380, now the rubbers of the brush housing is growing patches of brown aglae and it's not removable.

Roomba cleaning really is dusty. I really wish i can flush the dust container with water.

 

[thewiseone]

Thanks, i've done my preparations b4 that. I purchased a rectangular basin to house all the washed components & tank to dry. Only placed back the items after they are well dried. Am also waiting for my charging base as i dont like the idea of plugging the power into Scooba directly. In case something screws up, i rather have the base take the crap than Scooba itself

Yeah, Roomba cleaning is the ultimate in dust cloud creation!!!!!! Its so DUSTY, especially the filter. Those allergic to dust should put on a mask b4 any attempts at cleaning its dustbin. 'Fortunate' thing is i only empty it once every 3 runs.

yah, scooba easier to clean, just put under running tap and flush.

Btw, i suggest you open up the scooba brush housing to dry when not using. Put back only when you want to run the scooba.

Last time i did not do that to my 380, now the rubbers of the brush housing is growing patches of brown aglae and it's not removable.

Roomba cleaning really is dusty. I really wish i can flush the dust container with water.

 

[whypurplishblue]

wah u empty after 3 runs? i have to empty it after every run. My filter is half covered when I run it once. I live in the west, maybe its dustier here.

 

[spookymulder77]

Hi, I am interested in getting 1 of the iRobot models. However, unsure which one. I have homogeneous tiles in my living room while my rooms are laminate flooring. Is Scooba suitable (as in would not spoil the laminate flooring)? Or should I get Rhoomba?

In addition, any reliable seller on ebay to recommend?

Thanks!

 

[thewiseone]

My place is very dusty too, thats why it has to be Roomba'd and Scooba'd daily The cause for the quick bin cleaning is usually caused by the filter being choked first. The bin has quite some capacity as long as u dont have bigger items on the floor.

wah u empty after 3 runs? i have to empty it after every run. My filter is half covered when I run it once. I live in the west, maybe its dustier here.

 

[thewiseone]

That depends on how dirty or messy yr place is. Do u have kids at home, leaving food droplets, sweets, etc. on the floors? Are your floors often littered with stuff? If so, then u need a Roomba. If your floors are relatively clean apart from dust, then u may be able to get by with just a Scooba. Now, iRobot has warned against using Scooba on unsealed flooring. Do you have any issues with wet mopping yr laminate flooring? If you do, then u cannot use Scooba. Else, the Scooba should do fine as it is no wetter than the normal manual floor mopping.

I would suggest buying yr stuff from reputed stores like Amazon, HSN, Woot, etc. Unless you cant find the item at a good price, then u look to Ebay sellers. Only caution is, some Ebay sellers have passed on remanufactured models as brand new sets. Buyer beware.

Hi, I am interested in getting 1 of the iRobot models. However, unsure which one. I have homogeneous tiles in my living room while my rooms are laminate flooring. Is Scooba suitable (as in would not spoil the laminate flooring)? Or should I get Rhoomba?

In addition, any reliable seller on ebay to recommend?

Thanks!

 

[thewiseone]

Guys, iRobot has changed the naming convention to the older models as well. Eg, the Roomba Red is now called Roomba 410 while the Sage is 416. Guess they have to do this to stick with the new 3 digit naming convention.

 

[mosmos]

Guys, iRobot has changed the naming convention to the older models as well. Eg, the Roomba Red is now called Roomba 410 while the Sage is 416. Guess they have to do this to stick with the new 3 digit naming convention.

very confusing with numbers again.

 

[spookymulder77]

If your floors are relatively clean apart from dust, then u may be able to get by with just a Scooba.

Hi thewiseone,

Thans for ur reply. Helped me substantially in my quest.

Also have a couple more questions
- Like to inquire also whether you meant Roomba in your sentence above?
- Seems like there is a dry mode for Scooba as well. So does dry mode mean that it will operate like a Roomba? Thinking of getting Scooba and use dry mode for my laminate flooring while wet mode for my homogeneous tiles.

Thanks!

 

[thewiseone]

Hello Spookymulder77, u r welcome

My last statement was referring to SCOOBA, not Roomba.

There is a dry mode for Scooba but its not meant to be used as what u thought. The dry mode is engaged automatically at the end of the cleaning cycle, basically Scooba stops putting out cleaning solution and only runs the vacuum. This is supposedly to dry off its brush and u can pick it up when its done w/o a puddle of water left behind. It can also be manually engaged when u need to end a cleaning cycle prematurely. In addition, u may have come across the website mentioning how Scooba works in the following manner:

1) Preps - picks up loost dirt
2) Washes - Inject cleaning solution
3) Scrubs - Brush scrubbing the floor
4) Dry - Sucks up the dirty water

These 4 stages are NOT separate, they ALL take place simultaneously and continuously. Hope this helps.

Hi thewiseone,

Thans for ur reply. Helped me substantially in my quest.

Also have a couplemore questions
- Like to inquire also whether you meant Roomba in your sentence above?
- Seems like there is a dry mode for Scooba as well. So does dry mode mean that it will operate like a Roomba? Thinking of getting Scooba and use dry mode for my laminate flooring while wet mode for my homogeneous tiles.

Thanks!

 

[spookymulder77]

Thanks bro.

Now is just to find out whether Scooba suitable for laminate flooring anot before making final decision. May get a Roomba 1st from COMEX later. Saw someone posting that he just bought one.

By the way, are the units being sold at Comex now out-dated models as pointed out?

Thank you.

 

[GoogleMe!]

Scooba selling at COMEX is 5900. White color tank for water.
IROBOT no longer selling these.
Selling at : > $1200
1 year warranty.

Now IROBOT selling 5800, 350, 380.
These water tank are blue in color. One look you know already.
Self Import 5800 : <$600
No local warranty.

Local GKrobots : $638.
14 days warranty.

 

[whypurplishblue]

I'd go for self-import, might seem a little scary at first, but I feel its worth the effort. Some of us has done that with minimal problems, besides torturing ourselves waiting for it to arrive hehe..
I got my remanufactured scooba from amazon and roomba from ebay. Both around S$400 including postage.

 

[mosmos]

woot.com roomba offer at US$149.99 this morning

but was soldout within 2hrs.

 

[mosmos]

Scooba selling at COMEX is 5900. White color tank for water.
IROBOT no longer selling these.
Selling at : > $1200
1 year warranty.

Now IROBOT selling 5800, 350, 380.
These water tank are blue in color. One look you know already.
Self Import 5800 : <$600
No local warranty.

Local GKrobots : $638.
14 days warranty.

I am wondering why irobot singapore is selling such an out-dated product.

 

[thewiseone]

I believe the models sold at Comex should be the older series, 4th generation Roombas. Unless u must get 1 now and u can get it cheap, perhaps u might like to wait a little for the Roomba 5th generation 500 series?

Thanks bro.

Now is just to find out whether Scooba suitable for laminate flooring anot before making final decision. May get a Roomba 1st from COMEX later. Saw someone posting that he just bought one.

By the way, are the units being sold at Comex now out-dated models as pointed out?

Thank you.

 

[thewiseone]

Whypurplishblue, any issues with yr reman Scooba from Amazon? What condition did the unit arrive in? Battery ok? Really tempted to get a reman Scooba from ecost, its affordable at US$139!!!

I'd go for self-import, might seem a little scary at first, but I feel its worth the effort. Some of us has done that with minimal problems, besides torturing ourselves waiting for it to arrive hehe..
I got my remanufactured scooba from amazon and roomba from ebay. Both around S$400 including postage.

 

[thewiseone]

Legs & Hands not fast enough and u'll miss the boat easily...

woot.com roomba offer at US$149.99 this morning

but was soldout within 2hrs.